Synopsis: Italy has approved a €13.5 billion suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, linking Sicily to mainland Italy. The megaproject offers valuable lessons for India as it pursues its own infrastructure ambitions. The Italian government has cleared the construction of what could become the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting Sicily with the Italian mainland. With an estimated cost of €13.5 billion and a timeline stretching into the next decade, the bridge aims to create thousands of jobs and boost trade, logistics, and tourism.What stands out is not just the scale but the rationale. Italy sees the bridge as a long-term enabler of regional integration, economic development, and global competitiveness. It is a political as much as an engineering statement. For India, which has its own ambitious infrastructure pipeline—ranging from bullet trains to river-linking projects—Italy’s approach offers lessons. Megaprojects require political will, financial innovation, and clear communication with stakeholders.They also demand resilience against criticism, whether environmental, financial, or social. India’s push for expressways, metro systems, and industrial corridors shares similarities with Italy’s bridge project: both are attempts to physically and symbolically unite regions while stimulating long-term economic growth.Critics may argue about costs, debt, and execution risks. Yet the broader takeaway is clear: minfrastructure remains a cornerstone of national strategy in both developed and developing economies. The Messina Bridge, once complete, could stand as a global reminder that bold projects—when executed well—can redefine nations and regions for generations.Synopsis: Italy has approved a €13.5 billion suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, linking Sicily to mainland Italy. The megaproject offers valuable lessons for India as it pursues its own infrastructure ambitions. The Italian government has cleared the construction of what could become the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting Sicily with the Italian mainland. With an estimated cost of €13.5 billion and a timeline stretching into the next decade, the bridge aims to create thousands of jobs and boost trade, logistics, and tourism.What stands out is not just the scale but the rationale. Italy sees the bridge as a long-term enabler of regional integration, economic development, and global competitiveness. It is a political as much as an engineering statement. For India, which has its own ambitious infrastructure pipeline—ranging from bullet trains to river-linking projects—Italy’s approach offers lessons. Megaprojects require political will, financial innovation, and clear communication with stakeholders.They also demand resilience against criticism, whether environmental, financial, or social. India’s push for expressways, metro systems, and industrial corridors shares similarities with Italy’s bridge project: both are attempts to physically and symbolically unite regions while stimulating long-term economic growth.Critics may argue about costs, debt, and execution risks. Yet the broader takeaway is clear: minfrastructure remains a cornerstone of national strategy in both developed and developing economies. The Messina Bridge, once complete, could stand as a global reminder that bold projects—when executed well—can redefine nations and regions for generations.